BILL NUMBER: S7278
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law and chapter 47 of the laws of
1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of New York and New
Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the
port of New York district, in relation to requiring certain public
authorities to establish a cashless tolling amnesty program; and provid-
ing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The bill requires the Thruway Authority, the Triborough Bridge
Authority/MTA Bridges and Tunnels, the New York State Bridge Authority
and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to provide amnesty
programs to allow for the payment of tolls in full and to have any toll
violation fees and penalties related to such paid tolls waived for
payments made on or after August 1, 2024 and on or before December 31,
2024. The amnesty program of each authority shall be for tolls, fees and
violations incurred when cashless tolling first began on April 23, 2016,
through June 29, 2024.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends the public authorities law adding a new
section 386-c providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on the New York State Thruway.
Section 2 of the bill amends the public authorities' law adding a new
section 553-1 providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on bridges and tunnels under the authority of the Triborough
Bridge Authority.
Section 3 of the bill amends the public authorities' law adding a new
section 538-a providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on bridges under the authority of the New York State Bridge
Authority.
Section 4 of the bill amends Chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 declaring
the policy of the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to vehicu-
lar bridges and tunnels within the port of New York adding a new section
4B providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties incurred
on bridges and tunnels under the authority of the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey.
Section 5 of the bill amends the public authorities' law adding a new
section 1279m providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on highways, bridges, or tunnels operated by the Metropolitan
Transportation authority. Section 6 of the bill is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Providing an amnesty program for the payment-in-full of tolls by a date
certain and waiving late fees and penalties will result in increased
revenue for the tolling authorities by receiving payment for tolls due
and it will alleviate the burden of onerous late fees and penalties
charged to drivers since the tolls-by-mail program began. The enacted
2024-2025 state budget includes provisions to improve the tolls-by-mail
process, including the ability to opt-in to text messages and emails for
notifications so people do not have to rely on mail, risking being noti-
fied of unpaid tolls after penalties have already accumulated, sometimes
in the hundreds and thousands of dollars.
What is left unaddressed are the late fees and penalties already charged
to drivers who have experienced unfair treatment by totting authorities.
This legislation addresses what remains unfinished by providing a path-
way forward for tolling authorities to receive the tolls they are due
and to unburden drivers who have amassed hundreds and thousands of
dollars in penalties through no fault of their own.
Amnesty programs for paying unpaid tolls have proven to be effective in
other states and here in New York State when the Thruway Authority
established an amnesty program for tolls due for crossing the Mario M.
Cuomo (formerly Tappan Zee) Bridge. That amnesty program was offered
when problems with tolls-by-mail were correctly recognized by the
authority. The same solution - amnesty if tolls are paid in full and
waving late fees and penalties - should be offered by all the tolling
authorities.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.9692-Held in Transportation Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Tolling authorities will incur some administrative costs to implement
the amnesty program which should be offset by the receipt of unpaid
tolls.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed January 1, 2026. Section 4 of the act shall take effect upon
the enactment of legislation by the state of New Jersey having an iden-
tical effect on this act.